Pipe coupling



Feb. 23, 1954 REAM 2,670,223

PIPE COUPLING Filed Aug. 25, 1950 o N I:

f d a INVENTOR- Fred iikeam BY Patented Feb. 23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to pipe connectors known to the trade as a pipe coupling. In my invention disclosed herein by s itecification and drawing I illustrate the use of a plurality of relatively thin, conical, hard metal elements which are forced into cutting contact with the surface of the pipe ends to be coupled together.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of my invention being used on two pipe ends.

Fig. 2 shows a partial sectional perspective view of several sealing elements.

In reference to the accompanying drawings made a part of this specification, as shown in Fig. 1, the numeral Iii indicates my whole coupling which comprises end brackets ii, through bolts l2, nuts 12', center ring Hi. and sealing elements I 5.

Although not shown herein it is contemplated that brackets ll could also be adapted to be threaded and screwed onto ring I6 for tight coupling purposes.

Center ring l4 formed with circular outer ring 16 having rounded edges ll, an inner ring is against which ends [9 of pipes 29 are abutted for connection, provides a stop against which sealing elements I are forced into pressure contact.

When assembled, flange it of bracket ll tightly encloses ring 56 and sealing elements I5 thus forming a tight coupling of pipes 2% in such a manner that by drawing up bolts 12 by a hand wrench or thelike enough pressure will be exerted by brackets H on sealing elements is and edges [5 so as to cause edges Hi to cut into pipe surfaces as illustrated in Fig. 1 near the end portions of pipe 25), thereby securing a water and gas tight connection of pipes 20.

Since sealing elements I5, as shown in cross section in Fig. 1, are formed as portions of a hollow truncated cone it will be observed that the tendency of the edges I5 will be to bite into pipes 20 whenever sufiicient force is exerted to slightly bend elements 15 against each other and against end I! of ring I4.

It is contemplated as being within the scope of my invention to also use a single relativel long and narrow tapered width metal band as a wrap-around sealing element, not shown herein. The same novel features of an edge pipe cutting element as shown herein would be employed, as a substitute for conical shaped elements l5.

It is deemed unnecessary to show the same by a drawing, but it should be mentioned that such a substitute for elements I 5 would permit my invention to be used on an existing pipe line which possessed a faulty joint. In such a use to effect a repair of a faulty joint the end brackets H would be modified by a mechanic skilled in the art to adjust said brackets around the respective pipe portions in order to secure a gas or liquid tight coupling.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

In a pipe coupling device having as principal elements, a pair of pipe sections, a center aligning element, opposite end forcing elements provided with movable means and a plurality of pipe encircling rings, each of said rings being substantially frusto-conical in shape, graduated in external peripheral diameter, substantially uniform in internal peripheral diameter, and telescoped one Within the other, the external peripheral edges of said telescoped frusto-conical rings defining a substantially continuous conical surface, the inner peripheral edges of said rings defining a stepped substantially cylin drical surface engaging said pipe sections in biting engagement, said pipe sections being embraced by said center aligning element and said end forcing elements, the conical surface of each of the largest of said rings abutting said center aligning element, said end elements each having a conical inner end surface engaging the substantially continuous conical surface formed by the external peripheral edges of said encir cling rings substantially at right angles whereby upon movement by the movable means of the end forcing elements toward said center-aligning element, the stepped surface of said rings bites into the pipe surfaces imparting a longitudinal thrust to the said pipe sections and forcing them toward one another within said center-aligning element, said encircling rings in telescoped relation adapted to form a strut structure under compression.

FRED H. RE AM.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 887,859 Smith May 19, 1908 1,032,761 Miller l July 16, 1912 1,840,312 Dunmire Jan. 12, 1932 2,444,380 Shimek June 29, 1948 2,474,880 Woodling July 5, 1949 

